"Who goes there?" Robotnik said as he stumbled to his feet.

"It is I, the first spirit, Majestia, the Queen of Water, Wind and Ice. I am also known under the moniker of The Ghost of Christmas Past."

The spirit was just as transparent as the Ghost of the King. But because she was a female her presence wasn't as frightening. It was alluring. Being the Queen of the elements like Ice and Wind, perceives her well due to an icy wind that blows every time she moves. Every thing her hand and foot touches freezes in an instant. She was beautiful and gracious. She had a crystal blue gown that sparkles even in the night. Her skin was beautifully pale and her eyes were piercing blue. Her lips were thin but her voice was exultantly full of wisdom and confidence, like a mother's voice. Her crystal crown is more proof of her status as queen. It was a crown fit for royalty.

She walked over to Robotnik. He noticed that every step she made she left a frozen footstep. She went to put her hands on Robotnik's face. Robotnik gestured to reject because he was afraid that she would freeze his face solid. But as her hand touched his chubby cheeks nothing happened. His face remained the same as it has always been.

"Do you believe that I am real?" she said as she got closer to him.

"Y-Yes, Spirit. I b-believe."

"We must hurry Julian." She gently said to him.

"But where to at this hour? Don't you know how col-" Robotnik paused and realized that she can control the weather if she pleases.

"Then I trust that I'll be Okay in the cold?" he asked.

"As long as you're with me you shall not change in body temperature. Now, come. Time is being wasted."

She held out her hand for Robotnik to grab a hold of. He held on to her delicate hand and off they flew to another part of Robotropolis.

"Tell me Spirit, where are you taking me?"

"Well, Julius, I am supposed to show you your past?

"We're time traveling? Incredible! You must show me how you do it. I can harness the power to stop those freedom fi-

"Julian, we are here." She interrupted.

They arrived at an orphanage. Robotropolis has returned to its former self, Mobotropolis. Robotnik recognize right away where the spirit has brought him. This is where Robotnik spent his childhood years at. He recognized the smell, the grass, the fence, the voices, everything.

"Do you remember this place, Julian." asked the spirit.

"Remember it. I can walk this whole area backwards with my eyes closed."

They heard kids yelling and running toward them.

"Spirit can they see us?"

"They can't see nor hear us. This is time that has already happened."

"I see, no altering the past…"

"Julian, pay attention."

As the kids came by Robotnik can point out and name each one and tell one thing about them. The spirit noticed that he was enjoying himself by doing so. He was smiling and laughing. But there were two children that were off to the side playing with each other.

"Oh, could it be?" Robotnik said with a cracked voice.

It was the king and Robotnik playing their favorite strategy game, Combat Battalion.

"It's me…and the king playing my…favorite game." He said with a tear falling from his eye.

"You see, spirit, I had a gift for Mechanics so I tweaked the game a little. We can fire missiles and bombs. It was all strategy. Neither one of us can top the other. We were too good."

They both listened while the two younger ones played their game. The King was a Prince at the time. He wasn't an orphan like the rest of the children. He was older than Robotnik but still young. He would come to the orphanage to help out Rosie, the Nanny. Rosie was much younger in those days. He was bored in his palace so he would often explore the city either by himself or with his best friend Julian.

"I have you now, Julian," said the young Prince

"In your dreams," he responded.

It was more fun at the orphanage but good times don't last long. With a wave her hand, the spirit has shifted a year later. Robotnik's heart dropped for he knew what was going to happen. The orphans all got adopted except Julius. On top of that the young Prince started his apprenticeship as King so he couldn't go to the orphanage anymore. His father grew ill and his death was near. His mother died from the same illness months earlier. This was an unhappy time for the Prince and for Julian. He was mad because he felt that he was unadoptable. He ran away to live in the streets. He stole from stores and street venders to survive. He lived behind a factory so he can practice his gift of mechanics. When someone threw out a broken piece of machinery he would repair it, modify it, and make it better. He was filthy and full of hate.

Robotnik began to cry as he saw the visions flashed before his eyes. It was a cold winter's night and no one was out and about. Julius was on the prowl for nourishment. "This isn't the life of a young child" said the spirit. Julian collapsed in the snow and slowly waited to die. But a light flashed and Julian fainted at the sight of it due to his fatigue.

When he woke he was in a warm bed and next to him was a big platter of food and a familiar and friendly face. It was the Prince.

"Prince!" Julian said. "You saved me!"

"Yeah, I did. You better be glad I like to sneak out."

"Where am I?"

"You're at the palace. Here you go. I thought you might be hung-"

"Thanks" Julian interrupted as he practically inhaled the food.

They talked for hours until dawn. Then they fell asleep.

When Julian woke up he found that he was alone again. He went to go look for the Prince but he was nowhere to be found. So he went about the Palace breaking things and doing things he shouldn't have. Royal guards found him jumping on the Royal bed of the King. They chased him for hours and Julian enjoyed every bit of it until he bumped into the King.

The prince forgot to tell Julian to stay in his room until he returned because he was not supposed to be in the Palace. The King was angry at both of them. He told his guards to take Julian to the conference room while he speaks with the Prince. After hours of talking the Prince went to speak with Julian. He told him that he could stay but he has to be royally conditioned. He was to be taught everyday and part take in extracurricular activities that are acceptable by to royal educational committee. It sounds like the two were going to be around each other a lot but that was never the case. With the Prince's apprenticeship and Julian's schooling there was just no time for them to see each other. They only see each other at events and each time they meet they felt so distant from each other because they became so different.

Robotnik couldn't bear to see anymore and begged the spirit to take him home but she refused. With a flick of her wrist she changed the time again.